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The Effects of Mindfulness-Based Intervention on Emotion-Related Impulsivity in Addictive Disorders

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Abstract

Purpose of Review

Emotion-related impulsivity is a well-established risk factor for a multitude of addictive disorders. Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) target a number of interrelated processes involved in both impulsivity and addiction, suggesting that they may be especially well-suited to address this confluence. The aim of this paper was to review the effects of MBIs on emotion-driven impulsivity in addiction.

Recent Findings

Mindfulness training has been shown to counter a number of neurocognitive mechanisms linked with addiction and emotion-driven impulsivity, including cognitive control, attention regulation, response inhibition, negative urgency, and positive urgency.

Summary

Interventions that address emotion-driven impulsivity may offer substantial benefits across a wide range of addictive disorders. MBIs have emerged as a promising means for countering impulsivity in addiction. However, more research is needed to better understand how MBIs may impact emotion-related impulsivity and, in turn, how these changes impact addictive behaviors.

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Funding

Dr. Garland was supported by R01DA048094 (PI: Garland), R01AT011772 (PI: Garland), R01DA056537 (PI: Garland), and R01DA057631 (PI: Garland) from the National Institutes of Health and W81XWH-16-1-0522 (PI: Garland) from the Department of Defense during the preparation of this manuscript. Opinions, interpretations, conclusions, and recommendations are those of the author and are not necessarily endorsed by the Department of Defense or the National Institutes of Health.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center On Mindfulness and Integrative Health Intervention Development, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA

    Anna Parisi, Justin Hudak & Eric L. Garland

  2. Veterans Health Care Administration VISN 19 Whole Health Flagship Site Located at the VA Salt Lake City Health Care System, Salt Lake City, UT, USA

    Eric L. Garland

  3. University of Utah, 395 South, 1500 East, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA

    Eric L. Garland

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  1. Anna Parisi
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Correspondence to Eric L. Garland.

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Conflict of Interest

Eric Garland, PhD, LCSW is the Director of the Center on Mindfulness and Integrative Health Intervention Development. The Center provides Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement (MORE), mindfulness-based therapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy in the context of research trials for no cost to research participants; however, Dr. Garland has received honoraria and payment for delivering seminars, lectures, and teaching engagements (related to training clinicians in MORE and mindfulness) sponsored by institutions of higher education, government agencies, academic teaching hospitals, and medical centers. Dr. Garland also receives royalties from the sale of books related to MORE. Dr. Garland is also a consultant and licensor to BehaVR, LLC.

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Parisi, A., Hudak, J. & Garland, E.L. The Effects of Mindfulness-Based Intervention on Emotion-Related Impulsivity in Addictive Disorders. Curr Addict Rep 10, 508–518 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40429-023-00501-7

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